Unfortunately seven-time champion Rafael Nadal was not able to display his best tennis tonight in Rome. He was defeated for the second time in his 14th match against Stan Wawrinka. Our champ lost 6-7(7), 2-6 to the Swiss, who will next meet Roger Federer in the semifinals. Rafa wasted four set points in the tiebreaker, surrendering a 6-2 lead.
After the match, Rafa said: “I was happy with the way I played. He played some amazing shots. I’ve lost in the quarter-final but I had two weeks in a row playing well and only one bad match with Andy Murray. I’m not playing bad. The only thing I’m sure is I will try in Paris, I feel like I’m playing well and if I continue practicing the way I am, I am confident. I have not been playing with nerves and that’s the most important thing. I am ready to accept the challenge but if I don’t play well I lose, life goes on, I have still won there so many times before.” (via AP)
Next up is the French Open in Paris which starts on May 24th.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during a quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during a quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
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EFE/EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Quarter Final match with Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day Six of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2015 at the Foro Italico on May 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
EFE/EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Quarter Final match with Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day Six of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2015 at the Foro Italico on May 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
EFE/EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MEO
Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after losing a point during a quarter final match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season. The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Quarter Final match with Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day Six of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2015 at the Foro Italico on May 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Quarter Final match with Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day Six of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2015 at the Foro Italico on May 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain is knocked out at the Quarter Final stage to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day Six of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2015 at the Foro Italico on May 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal, right, greets Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka after losing a quarter final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season. The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal leaves after losing a quarter final match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season. The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal leaves after losing the quarter final match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season. The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal leaves after losing a quarter final match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season. The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Win OR Loose, always Vamos Rafa .
I’m sure Rafa will find his ways and win 10th FO .. However Rafa needs to start talking positive and never cast doubt on his own abilities and achievements.. He don’t even realizes that he has won 14 GS , 27 Masters 1000s, Olympic Gold medal and many more …Rafa needs to be told that he owns most of these players for over a decade now and now by talking negative about his own form , he is bringing a ray of hope in each of these guys mind that they too can beat Rafa … Look at Roger , he was in in worst form ever in 2013, but he kept telling the whole world that he is too good and will still win few GS… So rafa needs to start believing in himself and talk more positively … It would be stupid to tell Rafa how to play tennis, but still can’t understand why he goes so much behind the baseline even for 2nd serves ..Also he hits too much short and that creates huge problem for rafa as everyone pounces the ball with too much power to his BH .. Also it’s time Tony Nadal should call it quits and bring someone like Ivan Lendl to bring freshness to Rafa’ s game … He definitely needs someone in his life at this point of time to take his tennis career even higher to be called as GOAT
I love you to the moon and back Rafa I will continue to be your biggest fan no matter how many matches you lose. Xxxx
Oh and no, stan did not have a magical evening. He was making a lot of ue’s in set 1 but rafa played so bad that stan could take over.
Is Nadal serious? He played badly, his level was very low. Twice he was a break up in set 1. At 4-3, on serve, he gave away a game blasting 4 fh ue’s. In the tie break he let Stan take over. It was a drama.
Good luck dear Rafa. You can’t believe how many believe in you and want you to win. Just look on that as a positive. But remember this – we fans want your health to be first and winning second.
You are quite right Rafa when you said in your Press Conference “I have won there so many times before”. “Been there, done that”, as the saying goes! Keep that lovely smile on your face my adopted grandson! Love your Aussie Nana.
meu querido para mim voçe sempre vai ser o melhor,vc só precisa acreditar em vc mesmo.
e voltar com confiança e sem medo de errar.
Rafa my boy all I can say is I am continuing to pray for you n ask God to be with you. You are such a gracious, humble n dignified young man, n it is not the end of the world that you are losing tournaments at the moment. You have the right attitude n will get back to your winning streak. Vamoooos Rafa. Love your Aussie Nana. xxx. 🌺🌹🌷🌼🍄
Here is your Canadian ‘Nana”. Whether you win or lose, You are and always will be an AMAZING champion, but, even more than that, you will always survive, because your personality is stellar.
Vaya con Dios.
The point is he showed his weaknesses in the Press Conf..for all to hear…especially the Locker Room..Rafa please.stop trying to appease your female fans with these ‘sob stories’..and be the Warrior you used to be….we want you to win Tennis…not be a shrinking violet
a…Room
What a silly comments ! You show respect for a player who has achieved so much and always acts with dignity . Comment re female supporters so chauvinistic ! Come into the real world.
Truth is painful..I understand your anger…..admit he is slowly cracking up inside…..watching Novak constantly winning and remaining No. 1 would crack any player….he has to Man-up and stand tall in these Press Conf….show whose Boss….he has to!!
Forgot to mention….Tommy is short for Thomasina… so that’s why I recognize he’s appeasing his Female Supporters..and maybe even Maria (girlfriend)….will analyze this more later as rushing out now..
@Aditya: Agree he needs to be at baseline attacking second serve hitting deeper returns.. Makes me so mad he continuing to stay back.
As they say expecting different results by repeating same steps is definition of madness.
Aditya, I agree with exactly this strategy, attack, deeper shots,and DO NOT PLAY 8 FEET BEHIND BASELINE..
We at this fan site all love Rafa very much it is obvious to me. But, I am very concerned after today’s match against Stan. I;d like to think that maybe Rafa is working out the kinks, mentally and emotionally far more than any of us realize. He said he has begun to play without “nerves” and that he is happy about that. I will take that as a positive and hope to God that he can continue to play without being nervous and play with calmness and self-belief and win matches consistently and take a tournament to completion and lift the trophy. (and I mean the French Open). We must not give up on him. He needs our prayers. He really does. Just a small prayer will do. Good luck and good health Rafa. God Bless you.
Scheduelling gone crazy or what in the 1000 s .Semi finilists winning tonight almost 12 hours later than the previous semi s.This folowing Andys 1 am start last week.WTF s going on.Vicka finishing at 1 am last night,not 100% against Maria this evening.Obviously NO respect for the players,all about selling tickets.Hope a lot of these players ignore these disrespectful tournaments next year
I love Rafa, feel so bad when he loses, I am probably his biggest fan. But I think he needs to come up to baseline for second serve.. All matches he lost mainly the reason is his weaker second serve and not pouncing on opponents second serve. I will be very surprised if he makes it past quarters this time.
I am hoping alternate day matches will help him get better in longer matches.
I mean in French Open.
how could you loose the 1st.set with leading 6-2 in the tie break??I dont understand nothing….and then you lost your confidense in the 2nd.set of course…..
feel so sorry for you rafa….you have to work more with your confidense….please…..good luck in R.G..love you rafa…
I am gutted Rafa. Come back at the French open’
Força Rafa! o que está acontecendo!
I think Rafa is playing poker with the tennis world. Just Kidding! What I mean is he will show his best hand at the French Open. Just wait and see! So let him leave everyone in the dirt for a title he has already won 7X! The bigger picture is ahead!
Now he’ll have more time to relax, wind down, and practice like Andy Murray!
Tennis is such a physical and demanding sport. There is no shame in losing to Stan around
the stroke of midnight! Rafa has his sights and focus in the right place – RG (FO)
Always with Rafa win or lose!
Rafa you will always be my favorite but what were you doing playing Out in. the weeds
Have you had an eye exam lately. I am not being sarcastic. Something is Very wrong.
Agree he needs to be at baseline attacking second serve hitting deeper returns.. Makes me so mad he continuing to stay back.
As they say expecting different results by repeating same steps is definition of madness.
i’m so sad Rafa lose today he was way too far behind the baseline and Stan dictating the points just like Murray did. I wish he take a new coach but he’s so stubborn Uncle Tony has nothing new to offer to Rafa game ! Rafa played a great game today confident but has a few errors which make him lose . Keep positive Rafa and will always love and support you
He needs to change coaches
Siempre con Rafa!! Wawrinka tuvo una noche mágica, no erraba una pelota.
Devestated for our great champion but his dignity and grace once again sets him apart . Still trying to figure how he lost the first set . Stan had a magical evening. Good days will come again . Your supported will still be there
So sad! Tears in my eyes!
Always with Rafa<3
I still can’t believe its Rafa who lost the first set. Needs to play consistently deeper shots.
He lost because he keeps his returns too short and is not moving as quickly as before.